Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-24
CHAPTER xvII.-THE STORM BREAKS


CHAPTER XyII.-THE STORM BREAKS
And now it was that the trouble, which
at first had been but a cloud as large as a
mans hand, began to loom very black and
big upon our horizon; namely, Sorais' pre-
ference for Sir Henry / saw the storm
drawing nearer and nearer; and So poor
fellow, did he The affection of so lovely
and highly-placed woman was not a
thing that could in general way be con-
sidered calamity by any man; but, stu
ated as Curtis was, it was grievous bur
den to bear.
To begin WITH Nyleptha, though alto
gether charming, was it must be admitted,
af a rather jealous disposition, and was
somewhat apt to visit on her lovers head
her Indignation at the marks of what AL
phonse would have called the distinguish
ed consideration" with which her royal
sister favored him. Then the enforced
secrecy of his relation to Nyleptha prevent
ed Curtis from taking some opportunity Of
putting a stop, or trying to put a stop, to
this false condition of affairs, by telling
SOrais, in casual but confidential way.
that he was going to marry her sister. A
third sting in Sir Henry's honey was that
cerely attached to the olnInous- looking,
but most attractive, Lady Of the Night.
Indeed, poor BouGwan was wasting him
self to a shadow of his fat and Jolly self
about her, his face getting so thin that his.
eve-plasS would scarcely stick in it: Will.
she, with sort OF careless coquetry, Just
gave him encouragement enough to keep
him going, thinking, no doubt, that he
might be useful as a stalking-horse.
tried to give him hint, in as delicate q
way as | could; but he flew into a huff and
would not listen to me, SO / determined to
let Ill alone, for fear of making it worse.
Poor Good! he really was very ludicrous in
his distress, and went in for all sorts of alb
surditieS, under the belief that he was ad-
yancing his suit. One of them was the
writing-with the assistance of one of the
grave and reverend seigniors who instruct
ed US, ana who, Whatever may have been
the measure of his udition, did not I'M
derstand how TO scan a line-of most in
terminahle Zu-Vendi love-song. of which
the continually recurring refrain was
something about 81 will kiss thee. oh. YES.
] will kiss theeW Now, among the Zu-
Nendl 1t is q common and most harmless
thing for young men to serenade ladies at
night, as | believe Ghey do in the southern
countries of Europe, and sing all sorts Of
nonse steal songs to them. The young
men may or may not be serious; but no of
leIS1 Is meant ana none is taken, even by
ladies of the highest rank, who accept the
whole thing as an English girl would a
gracefully turned compliment
Awaiting himself of this custom, Good
bethought him that he would serenade
Sorais, whose private apartments. together
with those of her maidenS, were exactly
opposite our own, on the further side of
the narrow courtyard which divided one
section of the great palace from another
Accordingly, having armed himself with a
native either, on which, being an adept
with the light guitar, he had easily learned
to strum, he proceeded at midnight, the
fashionable hour for this sort of cater
waullng, to make night hideouS with his
AmorouS yellS. | was fast asleep when
they began, but they soon woke me up
for Good possesses a tremendous voicesand
has no notion of time-and [ ran to nv
window-place to see what was the matter.
And there, standing in the full moonlight
In the courtyard, perceived Good, adorn-
ed with an enormous ostrich-feather head
QreSs and a flowing Sflken cloak, which it
IN the right thing to wear upon these occa-
n1ons and shouting out the abominable
sons- which he and the old gentleman had
evolved, to a jerky, jingling accompani-
ment. From the direction Of the quarters
OF the maids of honor came q succession of
faint sniggerings; but the apartments Of
SoraiS herself-whom devoutly pitied if
she happened to be there-were silent as
to that awful song, with it's eternal, Il will
kiss theeP' and at last neither | nor Sir
Henry, whom | had summoned to enjoy
the sight, could stand it any longer; SO
put my head to the window opening, and
shouted For Heavens sake Good don't
go on talking about 1t, but kiss her and
let's all go TO sleep" That choked him off,
and we had no more serenading.
The whole thing formed a laughable in
cident in a tragic business. How deeply
thankful we ought to be that even the
most serious matters have generally a sill
yer lining about them in the shape of a
joke, if only people could sect it, The sense
of humor is a very valuable possession in
life, and ought to be cultivated in the Board
schools-especially in Scotland.
Well, the more Sir Henry held off the
more SoraiS came on, as is not uncommon
in such cases, till at last things got very
queer indeed. Evidently she was, by some
strange perverSity of mind, quite blinded
to the true state of the case; and |, for one,
greatly dreaded the moment of her awaR-
ening. SoraiS was a dangerous woman to
be mixed up with, either with or without
ones own consent. At last the evil mo-
ment came aS saw it must come. One
fine day, Good having gone out hawking,
Sir Henry and were sitting quietly talk
ing over the situation, especially with re-
terence to SoralS, when court messenger
arrived with written note, which we with
some difficulty deciphered, and which was
to the effect that 1.-The Queen Sorais COM
manded the attendance of the Lord Incubu
in her private apartments, whittier lie
would be conducted by the bearer"
oh, my word!'' groaned Sir Henry.
Cant you go instead. old fellows"
Not if know 1t, I said with vigor. ST
had rather face wounded elephant with
a shotgun. Wash up your own dirty
dishes, my boy. If you will be so fascinat-
ing you must take the consequences.
Amt you just in for it now, that's a1lE
You remind me of when l was going to
- hogged at school and the other bows
,sspe to console me-" he said, gloomily.
That right has this COMPOUNDED queen
- command my attendance, I should like
- know? / won't go.'
"But you must; you are one Of her Off
GERS and bound to obey her. and she knows
it. And after all it Will soon be over"
"That's just what they used TO say" he
said again. IT only hope she wont put q
knife into me. / believe that she is quite
capable of it," And off he started very
faint-heartedlv, and no wonder.
/ sat and waited, and at the end Of about
forty-fve minutes he returned, looking a
great deal worse than when he went. /
asked what was the matter.
''Whas is the matters Why, the fat is